Senor Amigo cemented his reputation as one of the top Texas-breds in training last Saturday night at Retama Park, when he won the $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame for statebreds by a widening six lengths. For his effort, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
"He ran a great race," said Scott Blasi, who trains Senor Amigo.
Bobcat Greeley, making her first start since coming to trainer Michael Dickinson's barn and racing for the first time since July at Calder, registered her first stakes victory when she scored by three lengths in Tuesday night's $75,000 Autumn Leaves at Mountaineer Race Track.
Trainer Robert Gorham and jockey Terry Houghton were the big winners on Michigan Sire Stakes night last Saturday, each winning three times on Michigan racing's richest program. They teamed up for two wins, including one with Weatherstorm, the probable Michigan horse of the year for 2006. Weatherstom, a 3-year-old gelding, was winning his sixth consecutive race and the fifth stakes of his campaign.
William Campbell may have wondered whether he had wasted $15,000 when he claimed a 4-year-old gelding in July 2005 who had just finished seventh, beaten 14 1/2 lengths, facing nonwinners-of-three competition.
Campbell, the trainer and owner of Speed Whiz, looks pretty smart now.
Speed Whiz has won 6 of 10 starts since he was acquired by Campbell, capped by a second consecutive victory in the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic at Charles Town last Saturday night.
Johnie Bye Night, a three-time stakes winner this season, heads the list of four finalists for 2006 horse of the year at Finger Lakes.
A 4-year-old gelding owned and trained by Charlton Baker, Johnie Bye Night won two sprint stakes for New York-breds and the Wadsworth Memorial against open company going 1 1/8 miles. He dominated all three races, winning by a combined 13 3/4 lengths with a pair of 100 Beyer Speed Figures and a 98.
EDMONTON, Alberta - There are 26 races for the final three days of the Alberta Thoroughbred season here at Northlands Park, including 10 for getaway day Sunday.
The meet riding and training titles figure to go down to the wire, with Rickey Walcott and Quincy Welch battling for the jockey title and Stu Simon making a late bid to overtake defending champion Red Smith for the training title.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - When a horse has run as long and as well as Pragmatico, age becomes irrelevant.
That's what trainer Armando Lage thought when he claimed the 8-year-old gelding for $20,000 from a victory in his last start.
Pragmatico makes his first start for Lage in a $40,000 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bay Meadows Friday, the first of four Friday night racing cards. First post is at 7:20 p.m., and there is $1 grandstand admission and $1 beer, soda, hot dogs, and programs.
Followers of Spite the Devil will get another chance to cash a nice mutuel Saturday, when he makes a bid for his third consecutive victory in the $250,000 Empire Classic at Belmont Park.
The Empire Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, is the centerpiece of New York Showcase Day, a 10-race card that is dedicated to New York-breds and includes seven stakes with purses totaling $1 million.
ELMONT, N.Y. - As was the case on Wednesday, weather could play a pivotal role on Friday's nine-race card at Belmont Park, but trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. won't be fretting about it, at least when it comes to the afternoon's featured race.
Dutrow has entered both Wild Nature and Upturn in the third-level allowance race scheduled for one mile on the main track. Both horses would likely run if the track is fast, but only Upturn will start if the track is wet.
Louisborg might have launched his career later than each of his rivals in Friday night's $250,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, but he has wasted little time playing catch-up. He won the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs in just his fourth start Sept. 1, then one race later was third to Strong Contender and Lawyer Ron in the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby.